We are currently experiencing some issues with publishing film reviews. We're working to resolve this, in the meantime we recommend saving any film reviews as draft in order to publish them later. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Leader rating

Synopsis

When India was finally granted its independence from British rule in 1947, it was a country divided by sectarian violence. As part of the new era, partition was introduced – breaking the country along religious lines and leaving thousands of people displaced. Overseeing the upheaval was Lord Mountbatten, the final British viceroy after 300 years of British command over India. Negotiations for the transition took place in the Viceroy’s house, a fine mansion serviced by a 500-strong staff made up of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs where Mountbatten lived and met with key political influencers. British director Gurinder Chadha, whose own family was forced to flee India as a result of partition, focuses on the house as a microcosmic symbol of Indian society and its concerns during this turbulent period.

What our educators say

"It really is a chance for us to open children's minds to the power of film not just as a vehicle for entertainment but also as a way in to understanding their own world and the worlds of people whose lives are very different."